Page:History of Sir William Wallace (2).pdf/12

                            12 advancing to Falkirk, hastened with his numerous army to meet them. At break of day, the Scottish army was descried forming on a stoney field, at the side of a small eminence in the neighbourhood of Falkirk. Wallace ranged his infantry in four bodies of a circular form;—the archers, commanded by Sir John Stewart, being placed in the intervals. The horse amounting to no more than a thousand, were at some distance in the rear. On the front of the Scots lay a morass. Having drawn up his troops in this order, Wallace pleasantly said, “Now I have brought you the the ring, dance accord- ing to your skill meaning, I have brought you to the decisive field of battle, let me see how bravely you can fight.

Bigot, Earl Marshal, at the head of the first line, rushed on the charge. He was checked by the morass, which, in his impetuosity, he had overlooked ; this obliged him to incline to the solid ground on his left towards the right flank of the Scottish body,